Japan's Minister of Transport has written to his US Department of Transportation (DoT) counterpart warning against the imposition of traffic sanctions, following the collapse in the recent round of air services talks.
In a letter sent to US transportation secretary Frederico Pena, Japan's minister, Yoshiyuki Kamei, states that the two governments are obliged under the existing US-Japan Civil Air Transport Agreement to resolve disputes through arbitration.
Kamei argues that the threat of "unilateral measures" being taken by the US Government would "...constitute a violation" of the agreement. "In such a case, I'm afraid, Japan will be forced to take appropriate actions," he comments.
The White House is expected to decide shortly on imposing sanctions against Japan Airlines, after a week of DoT consultations with FedEx, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines. FedEx is understood to be lobbying hard for action to be taken after Japan rejected its application for new fifth-freedom services (Flight International, 24-30 July, P5)
Kamei blamed the collapse on the US delegation's unwillingness to discuss the wider issue of revising the passenger air services agreement between the two countries.
The US side, in turn, accused the Japanese of having "-upped the ante". Washington has insisted on Tokyo first resolving all outstanding issues, such as US carrier route applications rejected by Japan, before it is willing to discuss a new bilateral agreement.
Source: Flight International
